ICYMI
Independent Seth Bodnar on NewsNation: “Focus on the people, not blind loyalty to a party”
Bodnar lays out his path to victory, his pledge to serve as a true Independent, and why Montanans are ready for leaders focused on solving problems instead of partisan games
MISSOULA, MT — Former U.S. Army Green Beret and Independent U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar joined NewsNation this week to discuss his path to victory in Montana’s U.S. Senate race and the growing momentum behind Independent candidates. Bodnar made the case that Montanans are ready for a senator focused on solving problems rather than fighting for either party, and pointed to new polling showing his campaign in the lead.
Watch the full interview here. Below are key excerpts:
“You win by speaking to the common-sense majority of this country, the common-sense majority of Montana, who feel like our political system isn’t serving them. They see rampant corruption. They see a crisis of costs for housing, for gas, for fertilizer. Our farmers are in crisis. And you speak to the people who are looking for leaders who are going to focus on solving problems, not fighting for the red team or the blue team. And I’ll tell you, we’re seeing that move. We saw a poll last week that had us up two points. We have a real path to win this race, and it’s pretty exciting out there.”
“I believe Montana deserves a U.S. senator who doesn’t work for Chuck Schumer, and I believe Montana deserves a U.S. senator who’s not afraid of Donald Trump. A U.S. senator who’s going to work for them, who’s going to fight for common-sense policies to support our farmers and ranchers, and who’s going to stand up to break up the big corporate monopolies that are driving up costs for all of us while they squeeze our farmers and ranchers. My Republican opponent was installed on this ballot through a backroom insider deal by party insiders, and that’s who he answers to. I answer to Montanans, and I can stand up to either party when it makes sense.”
“One of the presidents I admire is Harry Truman. He was a farmer, a veteran, and a small business owner. He gets a lot of credit for saying ‘the buck stops here,’ but the quote of his I appreciate even more is, ‘It’s amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who gets the credit.’ Right now, we have a bunch of Republicans and a bunch of Democrats in D.C. who only care about whether they can blame the other side or claim credit for themselves. Nothing’s getting done, and the American people are suffering. Those are the types of leaders we need right now: people who are going to move us forward.”
“The extremes on the far left that say things like ‘open borders’ and ‘defund the police’? That’s nuts. And then you have Republicans on the far right who don’t have the spine to stand up and carry out their constitutional obligation to stop an unconstitutional war in Iran. Come on, do your duty. Focus on the people, not blind loyalty to a party.”
Seth Bodnar is a Green Beret, business leader, and former president of the University of Montana running for the U.S. Senate to be an independent voice for Montana. Seth is guided by a lifelong commitment to duty, honor, and country. He graduated first in his class at West Point and served multiple overseas deployments, leading soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Special Forces Group, and serving as a special advisor to the commanding general in Iraq. After his military service and a successful career in business, Seth spent the last eight years leading the University of Montana. Under his leadership, the university achieved record high graduation rates, doubled research funding, launched the largest infrastructure renewal in campus history, restored financial stability, and was named the #1 military-friendly university in the country. Raised by two public school teachers, he believes leadership is about service, not party loyalty. Seth and his wife, a fifth-generation Montanan, are raising their three children in Montana.
###